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Franklin Graham Meets with President of South Sudan

On the day after the excitement of Independence Day, South Sudan President Salva Kiir began to think about the challenges facing the new country.

There is the difficulty of building a nation from scratch, in an area with little infrastructure. There is the problem of the ongoing violence in disputed areas such as southern Kordofan and neighboring Abyei, and the major issue of oil revenue. South Sudan has most of the oil but it must move it through Sudan’s pipes.

Franklin Graham, president of Samaritan’s Purse, advised Kiir about the only true source of wisdom and help during a meeting between the two men on Sunday.

After congratulating him on being the first president of the new nation, Graham encouraged Kiir to stay in prayer and to seek Godly counsel. He also presented him with a cross just like the ones we have placed on the more than 430 churches Samaritan’s Purse has built throughout northern and southern Sudan.

Graham also assured the president that Samaritan’s Purse will remain a true and steady friend to the South Sudanese people.

Kiir, who visited the Samaritan’s Purse international headquarters in January 2009, welcomed Graham to South Sudan and thanked him for coming so far away from home to share in the celebration. He thanked Graham for his personal friendship over the year, and expressed his appreciation for the work of Samaritan's Purse.

The two men prayed together, and Graham asked God to bless the new nation and give wisdom to its leaders.